The Trackable Benchmarks of Southeastern Poquoson

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Geocache Description:

This cache brings you to four City of Poquoson Benchmarks. Near the 1st & last marks are complete trackable tracking codes, and near the 2nd & 3rd are hints to complete partially given tracking codes. Discovering the trackables gives you the clues you need for the final cache, which you'll find at N 37° 0A.BC7 W 076° 2D.EF9.

Congrats to Buffalo 113 for a well-met FTF!!!

Geocaching.com takes its benchmark data from the National Geodetic Survey. This means that only after NGS adds Poquoson's benchmarks to its database can we log them on geocaching's website. Until then, this cache gives you credit for finding Poquoson benchmarks 10-13 by using trackables.

Before we start, a few notes:
1. The "special tool requirement" attribute is simply this: if you want to find the cache in one trip, you will need to bring a smartphone or some other device with mobile access to the internet. You need to access geocaching.com trackable websites to get the hints needed to find the cache.
2. The first benchmark is neither kid nor dog friendly. Be careful crossing the street. However, the kids can play on the playground while you find the benchmark!
3. The 2nd & last mark also require that you cross a street, but they have little or no traffic.
4. The "ticks" attribute is applicable to the 2nd benchmark and the final cache location, both which could be muddy after the rain.

- Ok? Game on -

-- Benchmark Station Poq 13 --
The cache coordinates bring you to the first benchmark, Poq 13. Directly across the street from the benchmark is a playground where you can park. You'll find the benchmark at the northwest corner of Messick and Ridge. It's not an easy find, since the cement block it's on has tilted away from the street towards the yard. You might have to move some dirt and grass from what appears to be just a chunk of tilted concrete to reveal the benchmark.
Tracking code: As you cross back to your car, you'll see the sign for the park. Use the sign to decipher the tracking code "@#G&58" where:
@ = Look at the picture the native American rowing a canoe. You will find four words in a semicircle above the rower. @ is the 1st letter of the 2nd word.
# = The 1st letter of the 1st word in the semicircle
& = Below the rower are 3 years. The 3rd digit of the middle year = &

[Cache of the past: on the way to Poq 12, you'll pass where "the Tackle Box" used to be - (visit link) .]

-- Benchmark Station Poq 12 --
Your 2nd benchmark is at N 37° 06.614 W 076° 19.327. Look where it appears a ditch is forming to drain to the south, and you should see cement in which the mark is set.
Tracking code: After you find the mark, look up the hill to the east. You'll see a sign about motorized vehicles. The fourth row down has three words, and we'll focus on that row to get the clues for the tracking code for Poq 12 which is:
&K#@D$
&: The number of letters in the second word = &
#: The last letter of the 1st word = #
@: The 3rd letter of the 1st word = @
$: The 4th letter of the 3rd word = $
Discover the trackable and your hint here: (visit link) .

[Cache run: there's a Battleship cache yards to the south of the mark - (visit link) .]

-- Benchmark Station Poq 11 --
If you're lucky, the public marina parking space right next to the benchmark at N 37° 06.626 W 076° 19.169 is open. It always is when I'm there. Here's how I find the mark: from the One Way sign, I take two steps south (into the grass) and one step west (right). That should land you right on the mark.
Tracking code: From the benchmark, walk east along the sidewalk to the pier. As you approach the pier, a utility pole on the right has two white signs with red lettering. The bottom sign discusses rentals. Use that sign to solve for these clues:
#B%D@Q
#: The third row down has two words. The first letter of the second word = #
%: The top row has two words. The first letter of the first word = %
@: The number of digits in the fourth row down = @
Discover the trackable and your hint here: (visit link) .

[Cache run: for a beautiful view and a cache, visit (visit link) which is a short walk to the southeast of the mark.]

-- Benchmark Station Poq 10 --
Your last benchmark is at N 37° 06.685 W 076° 20.492. Just park on the street in front of the pump station, which is what the locals do on this street.
Tracking code: After you've found the mark, walk east across the street to the telephone pole just north of the small strand of trees. The tracking code is on gray conduit, about eye level, on the back side of the pole. Discover the trackable and your hint here: (visit link) . [It's an "oh," not a "zero."]

[Cache run: My fave all-time cache, folks, has been archived. Down at the end of Poquoson road was Jerseyjaky1's Walk the Plank (visit link) . It certainly was not for the faint of heart!]

You should now have all the clues you need for the cache, which is at N 37° 0A.BC7 W 076° 2D.EF9. Congrats on finding the trackable benchmarks of southeastern Poquoson!